Bovine TB Announcement Due on Monday

Hilary Benn the minister at the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs made the announcement during his visit to the Royal Show and the National Agricultural Showground in Warwickshire on Friday.

However, he confirmed that there would not be a cull of badgers, which are believed to be a major cause of the disease in cattle.

Mr Benn said: "Bovine Tuberculosis is a serious problem and for some farmers it is devastating.

"But we are determined to tackle the problem.

"The question is what is the most effective way of dealing with it."

Mr Benn said that he could not reveal the detail of the erradication programme, but he added that it would be based on four main principles - science, practicality, effectiveness and public acceptablility.

He said that the government ahd consulted the industry and had spent a long time talking about it and  the latest research into the problem had taken 10 years.

"The whole matter is what is going to be the most effective means at our disposal," he said.

"Bovine tuberculosis is a big problem and we can only deal with it by working together."

However, the government's reluctance to carry out a cull of badgers has caused anger among many farmers, some of whom are now threatening to stop regular TB testing in their herds.

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